Keep your focus

You seem to take this matter of eschatology with disdain. Why do you think so? I believe end time events are very topical and real issues. Why then do you dismiss predictions on the rise of the European Union, the invasion of Israel... things that are clearly predicted? I don’t. But I think the emphasis we have on the eschatology is a bit skewed. How much focus do we have on the persecutions Christians will face and on the gospel unction we expect? For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And you shall be betrayed also by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends. And they will cause some of you to be put to death Lk 21:15, 16(MKJV). I don’t think you should pay little attention to world affairs. All right I will ask you a question. What were you and your wife doing in the market yesterday? Were you getting drugs for her contractions or what? I am not dodging the matter at hand, just answer. I can hardly see the connection. Anyway she is close to delivery we have been purchasing the last things in readiness for baby’s arrival. It doesn’t make sense to get drugs for contractions she is at term and has to deliver. Have you considered that Jesus described these world upheavals as birth pangs? For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains Mk 13:8(ISV). I don’t quite get the connection. Your wife has birth pains, but your focus is not on the birth pangs but the baby. Why? When the baby is born all the upsets will stop automatically. All the nausea, all the discomfort not so? You are getting ready for the birth of the baby, since you know all these symptoms are because the baby is to be born. Spiritually we must keep our focus on Him when these things are happening. And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near Lk 21:28(MKJV). Jesus said look up, not look around. So look up to him That’s interesting. So let’s follow your analogy a bit longer. When will this birth take place? Delivery ends birth pangs; getting the gospel everywhere will signal an end to these sorrows. When the good news about the kingdom has been preached all over the world and told to all nations, the end will come Mt 24:14(CEV). Until we preach the gospel in every part of the globe the end will not come. In studying end time events let’s keep our focus on Jesus and the gospel.

The Day of the Lord week 52, 2012

I didn’t hear about that predicted date of Jesus’ return. Why did they think Jesus would come back on that day? There seem to be so many wrong predictions. I’m glad you didn’t even know about the prediction. It was bound to be wrong. So you, too, must be ready, because at an hour you are not expecting him the Son of Man will come Mat 24:44(ISV). Bound to be wrong? Was the prediction not made by a keen Christian bible scholar? After all: The glory of God is to hide a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter Prov 25:2(MKJV). Some have been made by bible scholars, and some by cults, but have all been wrong. Even the future ones are wrong I can tell you. The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but what has been revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, so that we might observe the words of this Law Dt 29:29(ISV). Why do you say so? Does not the Spirit search the deep things of God and reveal mysteries to us? There were things the disciples couldn’t bear then which the Holy Spirit’s coming would clear up Jn16:12-14. That is so my dear. But consider this: Jesus did not intend for us to know the exact day of His return. No one knows when that day or hour will come—not the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. Be careful! Watch out! Because you don't know when the time will come Mk 13:32-33(ISV). He rather wanted us to watch and pray. Perhaps then, but now won’t He reveal by His spirit? Then and now Jesus never changes. He never wanted us to know the exact date then; He doesn’t want us to know the exact date now. So keep on watching, because you don't know on what day your Lord is coming Mat 24:42(ISV). So why did he give us clues, why the signs? God wants you to know the season, not the date. He wants us to know the times but not the time of day. The signs are to help us have hope because of the tribulations associated with those days. "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is approaching." Lk 21:28(ISV). They are to achieve a state of perpetual readiness in us, a life of holiness and industry knowing He could come today each day. Stop paying attention to predictions on the date, but pay attention to always being ready: think of the kind of holy and godly people you ought to be as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God 2Pt 3:11-12 (ISV).

Who do you say Jesus is Week 51, 2012

Who do you say Jesus is He was a great teacher, a unifying figure among many religions yet a point of significant division in the perception of different religious adherents. Let us not focus on other people’s perceptions now. I actually want to know who he is to you. Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Mat 16:15(CEV). What do you believe about him personally? I think he was the most morally upright man in all history. What a shame he died because of our sins. How do you mean he died because of our sins? Oh the leaders of the Jews were jealous of him and trumped up charges against him. He was too meek a man to allow violence to be used to rescue him from their hands and sadly Pilate was too weak in morals and scruples to uphold his cause; so he was unjustly put to death. Scripture tells me he died for our sins it’s not the same as dying because of our sins. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures 1Cor 15:3(ISV). If you believe he died because of our sins and not for our sins you are not a Christian. What’s the difference? The things you said before are all correct but you haven’t tied up the reason all of this happened. You said he was the most morally upright man; even his enemies could not find any sin in him Jn 8:46. He was more than the most morally upright man. He is God incarnate. And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God Lk 1:34-35(ESV) Someone suggested he was a man the spirit of the messiah came upon at baptism. No, he always knew who he is. From everlasting God is a spirit. Human beings have flesh as well as a spirit. The eternal God put on flesh and was born and named Jesus. So he is fully human also. In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. The Word became a human being and lived here with us.Jn1:1, 14(CEV) Since he was God how could he have died? Ah, his death was that of a substitute. He did not deserve to die, but died in our place. He died for our sins to be cleansed, removed, lose its grip on our souls and will. He died to pay the consequence of our sins that we may be set free Rev1:5. Do you believe this? By the way; Jesus is still alive today.

Why did Jesus come week 50, 2012

I like Christmas season a lot Why is that so? Oh lots of eating and drinking, buying of presents, visits to relatives... Is that all? Ah, the holidays. Clear two days and New Year right close by. Christmas is an expensive time you know Yea, you need lots of money for it I was not referring to money really: For you know what was paid to set you free from the worthless manner of life handed down by your ancestors. It was not something that can be destroyed, such as silver or gold; it was the costly sacrifice of Christ, who was like a lamb without defect or flaw1Pt1:18, 19(GNB) ... tell me, what is Christmas all about? A time of joy. Of remembering when the saviour came to earth. Very good. So why did the saviour come? Ah, ah! Is this a catechism class? Why so many questions? Well I feel your focus on Christmas is off the course... Of course I know why Jesus came. He came to show us the way, loving one another, and his humble birth is a lesson against materialism. Good but not quite. Read 1Tim 1:15(GNB) This is a true saying, to be completely accepted and believed: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I am the worst of them. Do you see he came to save sinners? Have you been saved? Well I think if anyone emulates the life of Christ he is saved Wow. Ok, what present did you get last year’s Christmas? How much did you pay for it? I didn’t pay for it, silly. It was a present, I got lots of presents and am looking forward to more this year. Are you going to give me one? I’m doing just that. Can’t you see that just as you never paid for any Christmas presents from people you also cannot by emulating Jesus pay for His salvation? But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was revealed, he saved us. It was not because of any good deeds that we ourselves had done, but because of his own mercy that he saved us, through the Holy Spirit, who gives us new birth and new life by washing us. God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior Tit 3:4-6(GNB). Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to us. God is offering this gift to you now. Why not talk to Him and let Him know you are ready to receive it?

Mercy said No

The anaesthetic nurse noted an unusual noise in the chest of the child we were about to work on, but I encouraged him to go ahead. I was eager to have the surgery done, and was sure we would come out just fine. So he put the baby to sleep, and I scrubbed up and prepped the child. Our monitor indicated the oxygen saturation was dropping a bit. “It must be alright” I thought, “I haven’t started doing anything yet”. With the first incision the monitor went really low. This was no fluke; something was going terribly wrong with our baby. He was less than a month old, and such children are particularly sensitive to airway problems and oxygen deprivation. “Oxygen!” I called out. The anaesthetist turned on the machine and brought the mask to the baby, but absolutely nothing came out. He looked at me in sadness; he had checked before surgery started and had felt sure oxygen was available. Baby was fast dying on the table before us. I believe the opportunity to do free surgery is also the mandate to share the gospel with the parents, and this one’s mother had been particularly receptive to the word. I had prayed with her to receive Jesus moments before the surgery; we had prayed for safe surgery also. What was I going to say to her now? For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? Isa 48:11(KJV). The baby’s limbs started stretching before me, and the monitor went flat. There was nothing else to do. I began mouth to mouth resuscitation, then chest compressions. Someone went to get another oxygen cylinder urgently. The monitor came on, the heartbeats were low, and the saturation far lower than tolerable. With a bit more resuscitation the indices improved and I thought we were fine. Suddenly the oxygen saturation plummeted again and the limbs stretched. I saw baby’s face: he was expiring. The monitor went flat a second time. “God have mercy!” I prayed. By now the mother must have noticed the flurry of movements in and out of theatre, the people running about. What was I going to say, how would I explain this? Again mouth to mouth resuscitation was done and chest compressions. We had been resuscitating now for over twenty minutes. The baby came back again, and another worker rolled in an oxygen cylinder. Hurriedly we connected oxygen to the baby. His colour improved, the oxygen saturation climbed. Soon the monitor read 100%. That was close. Inwardly I was shaken a bit and wondered if I dared continue with the surgery or if we simply should escape with life intact. The surgery continued quickly and uneventfully. At the end I carried the baby back to his mother. She was calm; “You know he’s quite small; he gave us some problems” was all I said. I sent for the administrator to report the incident and we all prayed for the baby again. I had doubtless been careless, but God showed me mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment Jas 2:13(ISV). At check up over 6 weeks later he had not dropped in milestone at all.